Ex-Soccer Star Questions Kiryat Shmona Voters' Support for Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Former soccer player and TV host Eyal Berkovich questioned Kiryat Shmona residents' continued support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the city's severe war damage and alleged government neglect. Election results show Netanyahu's Likud party received 48% of the vote in Kiryat Shmona, a slight decrease from the previous election. Similar strong support for Likud was seen in other northern towns evacuated during the conflict.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Eyal Berkovich questioned Kiryat Shmona voters' continued support for Prime Minister Netanyahu.
- Netanyahu's Likud party secured 48% of votes in Kiryat Shmona despite severe war damage.
- Kiryat Shmona residents had complained of government neglect during the recent conflict.
- Voter turnout in Kiryat Shmona slightly increased to 62.1%.
- Other evacuated northern towns also showed strong support for Netanyahu's Likud party.
Former Israeli soccer star and current TV host Eyal Berkovich expressed astonishment Saturday over the continued strong support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu among residents of Kiryat Shmona, a northern city heavily impacted by the recent war.
During his program "Moriyah and Berkovich" on Channel 13, Berkovich directly addressed the city's residents, questioning their decision to re-elect Netanyahu despite years of complaints about government neglect. "Are you normal? For years you come on air and complain that Netanyahu's government neglects you and doesn't support you. Then elections come and you choose Netanyahu again. Explain this to me," he stated.
Berkovich's remarks followed the release of election results showing the Likud party, led by Netanyahu, secured approximately 48% of the votes in Kiryat Shmona. This represents a minimal drop of 1.5 percentage points from the previous election in November 2022, despite the severe damage and prolonged evacuation the city endured during the "Swords of Iron" war.
Kiryat Shmona was one of the most significantly affected cities in the north, with residents displaced for extended periods, businesses suffering heavy financial losses, and infrastructure damage. Many residents had voiced complaints about insufficient government aid and difficulties in the city's rehabilitation.
The election data also showed "Yishai!" led by Gadi Eisenkot, coming in second with about 10.7% of the vote, followed by Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit with 9.5%. Voter turnout was around 62.1%, a slight increase from the previous election.
Similar patterns of strong Likud support were observed in other evacuated northern communities, including Avivim, where the party received 68.2% of the votes, and Dovev, with 66.1%.
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